Australians Lindsey Wright and Karrie Webb are just three shot back after the opening round of the Evian Championship being played at the Evian Resort Golf Club, Evian, France.

Wright and Webb both signed for three-under-par’s 68 and are tied for sixth position. They are chasing Japan’s Mika Miyazato, who shot a six-under-par 65 to lead the LPGA’s fifth major.

Rain forced the first round of the inaugural Evian Championship to be delayed one day but on Friday, the sun was shining brightly on the redesigned Evian Resort Golf Club and Mika Miyazato took advantage of the near perfect weather.

Miyazato leads by one shot over Norway’s Suzann Pettersen, Germany’s Sandra Gal and South Korean Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak who are each at five-under-par 66. Pettersen seemed likely to tie the lead, but missed a short par putt on the par-4 18th to drop into a tie for second.

Outright fifth is American Christina Kim, while Webb, Wright, New Zealand amateur Lydia Ko and American Michelle Wie are all at three-under-par.

Of the Australians, Wright was out in the morning wave and got off to a shaky start with a bogey on her fist hole (the 10th). However, she recovered to posted birdies on 15th and 17th holes before making a great up and down from 80 yards on the long par 4 18th to go out in one-under-par 35. Another two birdies followed on her back nine.

Webb was out in the afternoon and got off to the perfect start with a great approach shot setting up a relatively straight forward birdie. Another three birdies followed on her outward nine, at the 5th, 7th and 9th holes to go out in an impressive four-under 31. However two bogeys at the 10th and 17th holes and one birdie on the par 5 15th, saw the seven-time major winner come home one-over-par.

Katherine Hull-Kirk is the next best placed at even par and tied for 33rd position. Sarah Jane Smith is a further shot back and tied for 46th place. Sarah Kemp, who is playing in the same group as Hull-Kirk, carded a two-over-par 73 to be within the cut line, in a share of 57th position.

The top 70 and ties will make the cut. Unfortunately Rebecca Artis didn’t have the start she wanted. Artis is tied for 118th position at 9-over-par.

It is also noted that on Friday evening, tournament officials released the following statement about the 2013 Evian Championship: “Based on the current weather forecast models for the next 72 hours, tournament officials will target the completion of 54 holes with a cut to top-70 and ties following 36 holes at the 2013 Evian Championship.”